DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL

NACHARAM Secunderabad
SUBJECT: PHYSICS MAGNETIC EFFECTS OF ELECTRIC CURRENT CLASS : X

⮚ Hans Christian Oersted is one of the leading scientists of 19th century who played a major
role in understanding the concept of electro magnetism . He had shown that electricity and
magnetism are related phenomena.
⮚ uCrrent carrying wire acts as a magnet and magnetic field is generated around it in the form
of concentric circles. This magnetic field generated is always perpendicular to the direction
of current flow.
⮚ Current is a scalar quantity where as Magnetism is a vector quantity.

⮚ Effects of current:

● Heating Geyser, microwave, toasters, etc.

● Lightning Tube lights, televisions , etc

● Mechanical Motors, fan, air cooler, etc.

● Magnetic Electric bell, lifting loads, cranes, etc

⮚ Uses of magnetic effects of current:

Electric motor

Electromagnets to lift heavy loads

Electric bell

Speakers

⮚ Magnetic field:

The space or region around a magnet, within which its effect is felt is called magnetic
field.

⮚ Magnetic field lines

 The imaginary lines drawn in the magnetic field, such that the tangent drawn at any point
gives the direction of magnetic field are called magnetic field lines.

⮚ Note:The end of the magnet pointing towards geographic north is north pole and the south
is south pole of the magnet.
⮚ Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.

⮚ Repulsion is the sure test for magnetism.

⮚ MAGNETIC FIELD LINES AROUND A BAR MAGNET USING IRON FILLINGS AND COMPASS

⮚ PROCEDUR
E:
⮚ Place the
bar magnet at the centre of the piece of paper so that its north
pole is aligned as shown.
⮚ Place the compass near one pole of the magnet, and mark the positions of the ends N and S,
of the compass needle by pencil dots. Then, move the compass until the end of the compass
is over the second dot, and mark the new position of the other with a third dot.
⮚ Repeat the above until reaching the other pole. Join the series of dots and this will give a
field line of the magnetic field. Use this method to plot other field lines on both sides of this
magnet.

⮚ PROPERTIES OF MAGNETIC FIELD LINES:

● Magnetic field lines are closed curves

● Magnetic field lines are closed curves starting from North Pole and end at South Pole
outside the magnet and within the magnet south to north.
● Greater the field lines, more is the magnetic strength.

● No two magnetic field line intersects, because at the point of intersection, the needle has to
point at 2 different directions at the same time which is impossible.

⮚ WHY DON’T TWO MAGNETIC LINES OF FORCE (MAGNETIC FIELD LINES) INTERSECT
EACH OTHER?
Two magnetic field lines never intersect. If they were to intersect, there would be two
directions for the magnetic field at the point of intersection and a compass needle would show two
directions. This is not possible.
⮚ Conclusions of Oersted’s experiment:

⮚ A magnetic compass placed near a current carrying conductor showed deflection

proving that magnetic field is generated around a current carrying conductor.
⮚ Current flow is directly proportional to the magnetic field generated. Magnetic field
is always perpendicular to the direction of flow of current.
⮚ Deflection of magnetic needle depends on the direction of current.

⮚ If the current flows, clockwise or north-south direction, needle deflects towards east
and if anticlockwise, or south-north direction, needle deflects towards west.
⮚ Page no 226 fig 13.5(a)

⮚ Magnetic field developed by a straight wire(current carrying)

● Take a small cardboard and make a hole at its center. Pass a copper wire into it and
connect both the ends through a battery, switch, ammeter and rheostat. Sprinkle iron
filings on the cardboard and switch on.
● We observe that iron filings align around the copper wire in concentric circle,
showing that magnetic field is developed around the current carrying wire.
● Remove the iron filings and place a magnetic compass needle near the wire.

● When the switch is on, we observe the needle of the compass is flowing clockwise
or north-south.
● If the current flows from south-north or anti-clockwise (by changing the terminals),
the needle deflects west.
● Magnetic field is increased by increasing the current flow which can be observed
with more deflection in the compass.
 ⮚ Right hand thumb rule (Maxwell’s): Imagine that you are holding a current carrying
conductor in your right hand, such that the thumb points to the direction of current and the
forefingers encircling the conductor shows the direction of magnetic field.

⮚ Maxwell’s cork-screw rule: If we consider ourselves driving a cork screw in the

direction of current ,then the direction in which we rotate our fingers is the direction of the
magnetic field .

⮚ Magnetic field developed in a circular loop of wire (current carrying):

● Take a small rectangular cardboard and make 2 holes 2-3 cm apart.

● Pass a copper wire into these two holes and connect the 2 ends of the copper wire to
a battery, switch, rheostat and ammeter.
● Sprinkle few iron filings on the cardboard and switch on the circuit.

● We observe that iron filings align in concentric circles at both the ends of the copper
wire showing that magnetic field is developed. The center of the cardboard has
uniform magnetic field.
● Remove the iron filings and place a compass near the end of the copper wire where
current flows clockwise, the compass deflects eastwards.
● If the compass is brought in the other end of the wire where current flows anti-
clockwise, the needle deflects westwards, showing that magnetic field is generated
at both the ends.
● Magnetic field can be increased in a circular loop of current carrying wire
Increasing the current flow
Decreasing the radius of the loop
Increasing the number of loops

Note If there is a circular coil having n turns, the field produced is n times as large as that
produced by a single turn. This is because the current in each circular turn has the same
direction, and the field due to each turn then just adds up.
 ⮚ Solenoid:

A coil of many circular turns of insulated copper wire wrapped closely in the shape
of a cylinder is called a solenoid.

Magnetic field developed in a current carrying solenoid:

▪ When current enters a solenoid at one end, it passes through each turn before coming
out at the other end. The net magnetic field pattern outside the solenoid is similar to that
of a bar magnet.
▪ One end of the solenoid behaves as a magnetic north pole, while the other behaves as the
South Pole.
▪ The end of solenoid where current flows clockwise behaves as magnetic South Pole and the
other end with anti clockwise direction of current flow behaves as magnetic north pole.
▪ The field lines inside the solenoid are in the form of parallel straight lines.
▪ This indicates that the magnetic field is the same at all points inside the solenoid. It is
called uniform magnetic field.
▪ Thus, magnetic field lines around a solenoid resembles that of a bar magnet.

⮚ Magnetic field inside the solenoid can be increased by

Increase in current flow
Increase in the number of turns of copper wire
Placing a soft core/rod inside the solenoid
⮚ Electro magnet: An iron nail or an iron/steel rod around which a copper wire is
winded and passed current. The iron nail/rod acts as a magnet. Strength of
electromagnet can be increased by current, number of turns, depends on nature of
core material.

● Electric motors

● To lift heavy loads of iron

● Electric trains

● Electric bells etc.

⮚ Force experienced by a current carrying conductor in a magnetic field:

● Take an aluminum rod of about 5 cm

length and suspend it with copper wires at both ends and connect the wires with a battery,
key.
⮚ Fix the set up on a iron stand. Place a horse-shoe magnet near the AB rod such that North
Pole is above and South Pole is below the rod.
⮚ The rod is perpendicular to the horse-shoe magnet.

⮚ If current passes from B to A, the rod gets displaced towards left.

⮚ If the current passes from A to B, the rod displaces towards right indicating that the AB rod
experiences force when placed in magnetic field.
⮚ When key is closed, electrons (charged particles) move in the aluminum rod. The
external magnetic field exerts a force on the moving charges. Hence the rod
displaces.
⮚ The direction of the force is given by Flemings Left Hand Rule (FLR)

⮚ When the direction of current is reversed, the direction of force acting on the rod also
reverses.
⮚ The magnitude of the force acting on the rod is maximum when the rod (direction of
current) is placed perpendicular to the magnetic field.
⮚ The maximum force acting on the rod carrying current kept in the magnetic field is
given as: F= BIL
▪ F∝𝑩;𝑭∝𝑰;𝑭∝𝑳

▪ Where B = magnitude of magnetic field (Tesla)

▪ I = amount of current (Ampere)

▪ L= Length of the rod

The motion of the rod can also be changed by reversing the poles of the magnet.
⮚ Motion of the conductor can be increased by Increasing the amount of current

⮚ Using strong magnets.

Fleming’s left hand rule:

⮚ According to this rule ,Stretch your thumb, forefinger and the middle finger of your left
hand mutually perpendicular to each other then the forefinger points the direction of
magnetic field, the middle finger shows the direction of current and the thumb points the
direction of the motion of the conductor.
⮚

Electric motor (DC)

It is a device which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.

Principle: A current carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field experiences a force.
Construction: It consists of the following essential parts.

a. Armature Coil:
It is formed by winding many turns of insulated copper wire over a soft iron core,which
enhances the power of the motor.

b. Field magnets:
It provides a very strong magnetic field. The armature is fixed in this magnetic field.
c. Split ring commutator:A device that reverses the direction of flow of current through a
circuit is called a commutator.

d. Brushes: The two brushes X & Y, press against the commuter. The ends of the brushes
are connected to terminal battery acting as conductors.

Working :
● When the switch is on, current flows in the armature from ABCD in a clockwise direction.

● The magnetic field is from North to South.

● The force applied by the magnet on the armature will push AB down and CD up making the
armature rotate in anti clock wise direction.
● At half a rotation,Q makes contact with brush X and P with brush Y therefore current in the
coil gets reversed and flows along the path DCBA.
● The split rings which acts as a commutator reverses the direction of force acting on the
arms AB and CD ,Where AB experiences upward force and CD experiences downward
force.
● Thus the reversing of current is repeated at each half rotation, giving rise to a continuous
rotation of the coil and the axle.
●
The power of electric motor can be increased by
-by using strong electromagnets
-by placing a soft iron core
-increase in number of turns of the coil.
Fleming’s right hand rule: According to this rule Stretch the thumb, forefinger, middle finger of
your right hand mutually perpendicular to each other such that forefinger represents the direction of
magnetic field, thumb points to direction of motion of the conductor and middle finger shows the
direction of induced current.

⮚ ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION:
The phenomenon in which an electric current is induced in a circuit because of a
changing magnetic field is called electromagnetic induction.

Electromagnetic induction activity using magnet:

● Take a cylindrical loop of copper coil, whose ends are connected to a galvanometer.

● Take a strong bar magnet and move its North pole towards the coil. There will be
deflection in the galvanometer.
● When this magnet is taken away from the coil, there will be deflection in the galvanometer
but in the opposite direction of previous case.
● When the magnet is held stationary near the coil, there is no deflection in the
galvanometer.

b) Electromagnetic induction activity using copper wire:

● Take an insulating cylindrical body and wind a copper wire with large turns around it and
connect its ends to a battery and a switch.(coil 1).
● Place another copper coil beside it on the same insulating body and connect its ends to a
galvanometer (coil 2).
● Switch on the coil-1 (primary coil ) and we observe a sudden deflection in the galvanometer
of
● coil-2 (secondary coil )showing induced current and falls back to zero.

● As the current in the first coil changes, the magnetic field associated with it also changes.

● Continuous flow of current in coil-1 does not induce current in coil-2.

● But change in the magnetic field due to on/off of the current in coil-1 induces current in
coil-2.
● Induced current in electromagnetic induction depends on :

● -strength of the magnet used

● -speed of motion of the magnet/copper coil

● -Number of turns of copper wire

● -direction of motion of the magnet/copper coil

⮚ Electric Generator (AC):

It is a device which converts mechanical energy to electrical energy.
Principle: It works on the principle of electromagnetic induction.
 Construction:

It consists of the following essential parts :

Armature: It is a rectangular coil ABCD consisting of large number of turns of copper wire wound
on a soft iron core, which enhances the power of the motor.

Field Magnet: It is usually a permanent strong magnet with two poles. The armature rotates between
the two poles.

Slip rings: These are two hollow metallic rings to which two ends of armature coil are connected.
The inner lining of R1, R2 are insulated and are fixed on an axle. These slip rings act as
commutator.

Brushes: The brushes B1 and B2 are kept in contact with slip rings. Through brushes current passes
from armature coil to external circuit.

Working:

● Let the coil be rotated in clockwise direction such that AB move up and CD moves down

● Using Fleming’s Right Hand rule the directions of induced currents in both arms can be estimated.
Induced currents set up in the arms in the directions A to B & C to D respectively. So current in the
external circuit moves from B2 to B1.
● After half rotation, arm CD starts moving up and AB moves down. As a result the direction of
current changes. So current in the external circuit now flows from B 1 to B2.
● Thus after every half rotation the polarity of the current changes. Such a current is called
Alternating Current.

⮚ NOTE: To get Direct Current (DC), a split ring commutator must be used in place of slip rings.

⮚ NOTE : Frequency of AC
The number of times alternating current varies in one second is called its frequency. In
India we receive AC electric power of 220V with a frequency of 50 Hz
⮚ Differences between Alternate current-direct current:
 Alternating current Direct current

An electric current that reverses its An electric current that does not change its
direction periodically is called an magnitude periodically is called direct
alternating current current.

Less wastage of current during More wastage of current during

transmission for long distances transmissions

causes severe shocks when touched. comparatively causes less shocks.

e.g. Indian domestic circuits, hydro electric [Link] cell, voltaic cell, leclanche
motors cell

⮚ Domestic Electric Circuits : The electric power lines enter our house through three wires.
1. Live wire or Positive wire
2. Neutral wire or Negative wire
3. Earth wire
 ● Live wire will have red insulation cover

● Neutral wire will have black insulation cover

● Earth wire will have green insulation cover

● In our country the potential difference between live and neutral wires will be 220 V

⮚ FUSE:

⮚ It’s a safety device which breaks the circuit whenever high current flows through it.

⮚ Fuse is made of a material which has low melting point and high conductivity.
It is connected in series in the circuit. It is made up of solder alloy (Pb+Sn)
⮚ When electric current passes through the fuse it gets heated. If the current passing through
the wire exceeds the limit, the heat produced melts the wire and the circuit breaks.
⮚ There are different types of fuses, based on their current rating.

⮚ Ex. 5 A rating fuse. It can withhold current up to 5 A. Beyond this it melts and breaks the
circuit.
⮚ SHORT CIRCUIT:

⮚ It is a situation, in which when live and neutral wires come in contact with each other accidentally,
the resistance between the two wires becomes very small. Very large current passes through the
wire. When large current passes through the wires, due to overheating, it may catch fire.
⮚ Causes:
⮚ Due to overloading

⮚ Poor insulation of the electric wire

⮚ Precautions (How to avoid)

⮚ The use of fuse may prevent excess of current passing through the circuit

⮚ To use good quality insulated wires during wiring.

⮚ OVER LOADING:

⮚ It is a situation in which power through an electric circuit exceeds the prescribed value. Due to
overloading the circuit gets over heated. Due to overheating, it may catch fire.
⮚ Causes:

⮚ It occurs when live and neutral wires come in direct contact

⮚ It occurs due to poor quality of insulating wires

⮚ Precautions (How to avoid)

⮚ Too many appliances must not be connected to a single socket

⮚ To use good quality insulated

*********************************************************************